Henry c



(No Model.)

H. G. FRANK.

0UP]? FASTENER.

Patented Feb N. PETERS. PlwmLnm n her. wlShlIls\OIL D: t;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

HENRY C. FRANK, OF NTHV YORK, N. Y.

CUFF-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 397,119, dated February5, 1889.

I Application filed November 16,1888. Serial No. 290,991. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY C. FRANK, of the city and county of New York,in the State of New York, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Cuff Fasteners, of which the following is'aspecification.

I have in a patent to me, dated November 22, 1887, No. 373,556, setforth a style of cufffastener provided with a spring-clasp taking holdof the edge of the opening in the sleeve above the wristband, and whichengages with the cuff through the intervention of a hook, which isengaged in the nearest button-hole and connected to the clasp by a chainof sufficient length to hold the cuff in the proper position. It isfound that the great freedom allowed by this loose connection isobjectionable. It is found that in working with the left hand to fastenthe cu ff on the right wrist, after the hook has been engaged with thecuff, the looseness of the connection makes it troublesome to get theclasp in the right position. The same difficulty, but to a less extent,obtains in adjusting the cuff on the left wrist. The rigidity of thehook in my former patent involves difficulties in engaging it with thecuff, and the rigid hook is not certain to retain its hold on the cuffwhile in use.

I have devised an improvementin which the hook is jointed, and the jointis provided with a spring which is arranged to act] ike the spring ofapocket-knife to hold the hook either open or closed. In preparing toengage it with a cuff the hook is set open. bo soon as it is engaged itis closed,and the same spring serves to keep it closed and insure itsretention in the cuff. The hook is extended in length to give therequired distance between the clasp and the button-hole of the cuff, andis connected to the clasp by a swivel-joint which allows it to turn,butdoes not allow it any further liberty. Th is aids to hold the claspin the proper position to be engaged with the shirtsleeve.

The accompanyin drawings form a part of this specification and representwhat 1 consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a general perspective view showing the device in use. Theremaining figures show the device detached on a larger scale. Fig. 2 isa face view, and Fig. 3 is a corresponding edge view. The .renntiningfigures show portions on a still larger scale. Fig-dis a longitudinalsect-ion showing the hook closed. Fig. 5 is a corresponding sectionshowing the hook open. Fig. 6 is a corresponding face view. Fig. 7 is a.longitudinal section with the hook detached. Fig. 8 is a correspondingsection showing a hiOtllflOfll'lOYl of the form of the hook.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures where they occur.

A is a portion of the shirt-sleeve, and B an ordinary cuff, having holesb, which. receive an ordinary cuff-button, (3. My fastener has aspring-clasp, G, composed of two parts with a connecting-rivet andactuating-spring, as 111 my former patent referred to. Instead of theextremely flexible connection before employed, this clasp is stifflyconnected to the hook, with liberty simply to be rotated. This iseffected by extending the rivet in the direction toward the hook andembracing the extended portion in a long sleeve formed on the hook.

E is a long shank of the hook, and F. a sleeve formed in the end andembracing the rivet g of the clasp G, as shown. A hinge, e, connects theshank E to a hook, D D D D \Vhen the device is engaged with a cuff andconditioned for use, the part D extends nearly or exactly in line w ththe part E. The part 1) extends nearly at right angles to D, and thepartD extends in the general direction toward the clasp G, curved asshown. A short arm, D, extends from the hinge e nearly in the plane ofthe shank E. This arm D is subject to the .force of a fiat spring, M,which is strongly and stit'tiy held on the inner face of the shank E byrivets E This spring M presses forcibly on the hinge e. \Vhen the hookis opened in the position shown in Fig. 5, the spring M holds it stifiiyopen. In this position it may be easily thrust through the properbutton-hole in the cuff. \Vhen this is effected, the wearer turns thehook on its pivot: c, and the short arm D, after deflectin g the springM in its middle position, is acted on by the spring M, so as to snap thehook into the closed position, as in Fig. at. Thenceforward my deviceremains engaged with the cuff in the same manner as in my patent of1887, but still more efleetlmlly, because the action, of the spring lllurges the curved arm 1.) into Contact with the face of M, and insuresthe continued engagementof the parts with the cult until the wearershall again fm-cihly straighten the hook to facilitate its detaehmentfrom the coil.

l\lio(fli1ieations may he made by any good mechanic without departingfrom the principles or sacrificing the advantages of the invention. Ican vary the length of the projecting end of the rivet g, corresionding'ly varying the length of the sleeve E, which einbraces it. It isonly important that it he stiii. with regard to the length and easy toturn laterally, so as to allow a hook to serve for either the right orleft eufl'. I (an vary the widths of all the parts.

Figs. 7 and 8 show modifications in the I prefer that shown in Figs -1 Iclaim as my invention- 1. In a cuff-fastener, the hinged hook D D I) I)and shank E, in combination with each other and with the spring M andclasp G, arrangedii'or joint operation as herein specified.

2. In a euli"-l.'astener, the swivel E, formed on arigid extension ofthe shank E, in combination with the hook I) D D 1) and with thespring-clasp G, the fastener being adapted to serve right or left atwill, while holding itself rigid longitudinally, as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, at New York city, this15th day of November, 1888, in the prescmce of two subserihi ng'witnesses.

IIENRY U. FRANK.

\Vii n esses:

FHARLES R. SEARLE, II. A. Jm-m's'ronn

